SE1EA5-Electronic Circuits

Module Provider: School of Systems Engineering
Number of credits: 20 [10ECTS credits]
Level: 4
Terms in which taught: Autumn and Spring
Module Convenor: Dr Y Gong
Pre-requisites:
Co-requisites: SE1CB9 or MA116
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2009/0

Email: y.gong@reading.ac.uk

Aims:
This module aims to introduce students to some basic concepts of electronic circuits and devices.

Assessable learning outcomes:
Ability to analyse and predict the behavior of DC circuits, AC circuits, basic semiconductor devices and Operational Amplifiers.

Additional outcomes:
Computer Aided Design and Simulation, practice with matrices and complex numbers.

Outline content:
Circuits: (20 lectures) Fundamental concepts, power sources and electronic components. Passive and active circuits. Network analysis, Kirchhoff's laws, Thevenin and Norton's theorems. Representation of electrical signals, vector diagrams, complex representations for ac signals. Free and forced response of circuits containing L, C and R. System response, Q factor and resonance. Frequency response, first and second-order filters. Power in ac circuits, rms values, power factor.
Introduction to semiconductor devices and circuits: (10 lectures) Free electron theory, conductors, insulators and semiconductor material, diodes (silicon pn junction, Zener, LED), Bipolar Junction Transistors (operation, biasing, BJT as a switch and basic current amplifier) MOSFETs (operation, construction), Digital IC technology (TTL, MOS).
Introduction to operational amplifiers (10 lectures); Ideal op-amps, effect of negative feedback, non-inverting and inverting voltage amplifiers, op-amp's limitations, special purpose networks, instrumentation amplifiers, active filters, non-linear feedback, voltage comparators, positive feedback and its applications. Level shifters, voltage and current references. Sample and hold, analog multiplexers, Schmitt triggers, and oscillators.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Lectures supported by laboratory work.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	20	20
Tutorials/seminars
Practicals	9	9
Other contact (eg study visits)
Total hours	29	29
Number of essays or assignments
Other (eg major seminar paper)

Assessment:
Coursework:
Assessment of Laboratory work
Relative percentage of coursework : 25%
Examinations:
One 3-hour examination paper in May/June.
Requirements for a pass:
40% combined exam and coursework
Reassessment arrangements:
A resit examination in August / September

Last updated: 23 November 2009